Stroke or not?

[rargpilt]

it is a stroke, but it really shouldnt be

[zactaylorcountygolf]

that looks fine..

[perfect1150]

YES!

[peanut1327]

IT'S NOT A GIMME UNTIL IT'S IN THE BOTTOM OF THAT LEATHER!!!!_

[amazinglaxer4]

no, he only took one stroke. he simply placed the putter in front of the golf ball to aline it correctly, then took his ONE stroke.

[QuotaPBaby]

what was the rulling?

[Gman6755]

Looks like he meant to pinch it in the hole which makes it a stroke. He really should have called it on himself. It is a bit of a stretch to say that was addressing the ball. He should have known better but golf does make you crazy!!

[rcweimer]

who gives a damn, i would have picked that bitch up anyways. anything inside 3 feet isn't touching my putter!

[Jandeman030]

@rcweimer why is that? afraid to miss it?

[Countmaster0]

surprised he didn't break the putter over his head like he has in the past.

[mj4birdie]

Indeed a stroke. I say this because when he tried to tap it in, while walking the heel got stuck in the grass and the toe of the putter came forward. Keep tapping 3 and you will see the toe come forward and his right wrist rotate counter-clockwise. Nobody in the world would address their ball while rotating their wrist towards the ball because you may hit the ball with your club moving forward, signifying a stroke, intended or not. Woody played it off well enough to not get disqualified...

[MrElculver2424]

I would say no. We don't know if he intended to hit it the first time or not, he could have just been purposely setting the putter behind the ball. Not enough evidence to call it a stroke, so no.,

[britishno6]

no he addressed the ball by allowing the putter to touch the floor before tapping in

[The187Worm]

I saw the title for this video and actually thought someone was having a Stroke...lol....yes im a dumb ass...completely hit my own head after realizing

[Klistern2]

Its only a stroke if you hit the ball, your saying that when tiger woods pulls off a tee shot that thats a stroke? You all fail.

[nfr201]

@Klistern2 "A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke." - USGA: Rules and Decisions. Like @kickassproductions9 said, it's all on the golfer, if he intended to hit the ball then that is a stroke.

[TheRevA7XBrett]

This is not a stroke he never hit the ball

it doesnt matter reather he intended to hit it or not

hes putting its different you guys know nothing so stop

talking about stuff you dont no

[nfr201]

@TheRevA7XBrett see my response to @klistern2 - and it is spelled "know"

[ohhmeson]

Im a pro at bell bay its a stroke

[BroItsKeith]

@ohhmeson youre also a badass at sucking dick so...

you proved no point

[speckspeck]

IT IS not a stroke since he pushed it in with a twist of his wrist, the danger of a one inch shot is that you will overstrike it, he eliminated this danger by pushing it in in violation of the "strike" definition in the rules...read the rules people, including the definitions, pleeeeaaase

[encycooper]

We have all done it. Its a stroke.

[kbuildnz]

STROKE, cheating p----- , own up, he tried to play the ball.

[gregrutz]

He tried to hit it, it is a stroke.

[sniffy45]

at first I thought, no thats not a stroke btu I watch it 3 more times and have to agree yes it is a stroke.

[hhowe511]

I think he should be penalized, not for this occurrence, but because Woody Austin is an asshole.

[cb98100]

that is a stroke!

a tap in that short is still a stroke!

[jbullo84]

No stroke - he didnt address the ball or take a backswing.

[xjcrossx]

@jbullo84 I agree I would say that he was setting his club on the ground..albeit in a pissed off manner..but still just setting it on the ground with the intention of hitting the ball after it was lined up for the tap in..NO STROKE.!

[jackfin321]

i remember watching this on tv ! it had to be a stroke :P its embarassing but everyone does something like that once or twice

[MrLuigiFercotti]

Wow, very close, but not. Comes like he's gonna rake, then sticks it on the ground and then finishes. Looks like he changed his mind at the last second. The other reason I say no is look at the handle of the club, he is not pushing it forward to the hole. I've done this, stabbed and caught the ground, you cannot stop the intent of the stroke from showing with the movement of the handle. If the ground stops the club head, you hand will react and jerk forward.

[MVDwalter]

Fresh air Steve take you shot!

[MdanceMsing]

yup

[21Golfman21]

Stroke i think.

[MrPedrogolf]

stroke!

[pilatunes]

He didn't hit the ball the first time because he hit the ground! I am not sure if that is what makes it a stroke or not 'officially' but it was an attempted shot.

[893160007]

you can see the ball move

[beergut111]

yes its a stroke. he addressed the ball with the intention if hitting it.

he was mad cause he fucked up and made it worse by fucking up more.

[golfjer]

@beergut111

According to the rules he actually never adressed the ball, also he took no landing, did no backswing, which is were he got away with it.

[beergut111]

@golfjer he made the ball move with his club,,,,,2 strokes

[spartan3231993]

@beergut111 just because you address it with the intention of hitting doesn't make it a stroke, if you address you can back out of a swing.

[beergut111]

@spartan3231993 yeah, but his club moved forward and got stuck on the grass......that is a stroke. no different than a wiff.

[gvanyperen]

doesnt matter we all know he would make it in easily

[gregman2424]

the ball didnt move. it doesnt matter if he adressed the ball or not, he didnt touch it!!

[stubby42642]

@gregman2424 so ur sayin if u wiff a ball off the tee, it doesnt count cause u missed the ball. u should take a look at the rule book, there's some amazing stuff for you in there

[BenJogan]

I think the only one who could give use the answer is the man himself... If he had the intention to hit, then it's a stroke, but personally I think he did not...

[finch239]

2 strokes

[RoIsCool2009]

He place it behind the ball 1st!? which is an adress yh? then he hit it?

stoke much!? :/

[Richpers89]

you'd think at the age of 45 you wouldn't cheat. which is what he did by denying that. you think thats a part of his routine anyone lol? give me a break...he made a mistake when he was angry...now own up to it

[xavior8694]

he didnt even hit the ball the first time

[prefanatic1236]

Golf is a Gentlemans game, if he didn't touch the ball while setting the putter down, it's not a stroke.

[Maxer5ooo]

that's 2 strokes... when he hit the ground, he started like a new swing again.. obviously 2 strokes

[WestBromSte]

2 strokes

he went to stab it in but stabbed the floor

[sabbathkyuss]

2 strokes for sure. he just stubbed it.

[SuPaFlY171989]

he hit it twice. But I wasn't in Woody Austin's shoes so I really wouldn't know.

[MicrowavedHamster]

Dude, you can see from his reactions he didn't try to hit the ball.

[OwzatOllie]

that was 2 strokes

[Midnightrambler3760]

I think it's a stroke. Looked like his intent was to hit it and that's all that matters.

[IcyHotProductionz14]

I don't think so. I think he was just addressing the ball. But only he knows if he tried to or not.

[sidthekidisnumber1]

people dont adress a 2 inch putt

[IcyHotProductionz14]

That's true. I don't know. Like I said, only he knows.

[jdhthec]

dude.................go away!!!!!

[esfelectra]

um...yes

he touched it

idiots...

[beergut111]

if the club moved for the intention of hittin the ball then it's a stroke.

that was 2 strokes there because he bumped the ball when he slammed his putter down, then another stroke when the he made the putt.

[Dunk135]

yeah, probably

[emsbball]

Woody is the shiz. Don't Hate

[cheeverdog]

Look, we all miss putts and get upset. But we don't all stomp up the green,shake strangling our putters extended toward the ball followed be a flub backhand and quick jab. We don't all beat ourselves repeatedly over the head with our putters after missing a 12 footer. And last but not least, I've never taken a header into the pond after trying an impossible recovery with a 60 degree axe. Notice I made my point without calling any1 names or telling any1 to suck my dick.Claaaassssssyyyy?

[BooWeekleyNo1]

No.

[somethingwithletters]

my mates would hammer me for doing that in a social game why not when ur playinh for thousands of dollars

[cheeverdog]

he should be charged a stroke if for no other reason than his sloppy play and disrespect for the game.

[kovalcik17]

u can suck my dick. woodie got more class than youll ever have. dumbass.

[cheeverdog]

Dude breaks putters over his head

[kovalcik17]

lol

[GSCrepresentative]

more than you too by the way your talking... XD

[thebobsledteamz]

i say that was a shot it looked like he even lost his balance a little cause of the miss

lucky to get away with it in my opinion

[RuudGeboers]

And to add: I like playing the game more tham hammering on the rules moron.

[RuudGeboers]

That's why golf in my country still is not as popular as soccer. Because so many rule adoring poshes like you are playing it discouriging "normal" people to attend.

My statement is: Anyone can make that put without having to have any skill so let it please.

[Shaggychurchshoes]

yeh you jackass...but its getting it to the hole that is the tough part. I played soccer at IU. At that time we won national championship. I play golf almost daily. Golf is a hell of alot harder than kicking fucking ball. I do admit soccer takes extreme endurance. But soccer is only a great sport when "acting" is not a part of it.  Anymore there are Oscars giving out every game and its a joke!

[RuudGeboers]

I like joyfulvulture's comment :).

Indeed if you happen to like being a whiny useless to society stupid f*ck count this as a stroke...

[AbbyKnightsFtw]

I am merely stating the rules of the game so that respectable people can learn and increase their knowledge about the game. If you don't like it I will gladly let you leave with nothing more said. If you don't like the strict standards of the rules then find another damn sport.

[AbbyKnightsFtw]

His putter was in a forward motion when he "missed the ball". Under the rules it counts as a stroke.

[emncaity]

Isn't the rule that it has to be a forward motion with the intent to strike? For instance, if you waggle the club forward and sole it behind the ball, that's not a stroke. This looks like he just brought the club forward to a soling position, soled it, then hit the ball. It doesn't look to me like he hit the ball twice, either, like another poster said.

[joyfulvulture]

but according to rule #83: having common sense, and #42: not being a whiny little smartass, its not.

even a baboon could make that fucking putt if he actually set himself up for it, grow up you nerds.

[shivom90]

yea i wish these old bastards weren't so nitpicky about stupid bullshit like this..

[onealmed]

Without a doubt he got away with one.

[MrPar24]

man i like woody. I don't think he's mean or nothing, he just gets competitive. The hitting his putter over his head 50 times is a little crazy, but still...

[audiopro316]

yeah he meant to hit it, but grounded his putter. But dont piss off woody, or he'll bend his putter over his head.

[killekyle8115]

stroke if he was lining up he wouldnt have taken the club back off the ground

[avanpeltno2fan]

He hit the ball twice. Two strokes, not to mention the penalty he should have incurred by striking a moving ball on the second stroke.

[moshady8008]

A stroke, no question in my mind. He was making a stab at it and the club head stuck in the ground. This did not resemble "addressing" be ball in the least.

[Benji9999999999999]

I would say no. It appears that he was grounding his club in order to tap the putt in.

[bumblesbounce54321]

its a stroke

[bbrown222]

That is NOT a stroke. He was clearly addressing the putt, by setting the putter head down behind the ball before starting the REAL stroke, which was the tap in.

[tha99]

To be clear, if that was a stroke, then every "Tiger's stop" would be a stroke.....Final

[6Ott7]

STROKE

[kickassproductions9]

no it can be considered an adress, if he was an honest golfer and thought he ment to hit it, he can call himself. Really this one's up to the golfer himself

[NightmareAWL]

A stroke is defined as "The movement of a club or object that has intent to strike the ball. This must be fairly struck not scooped, spooned or pushed" This could be classes as the "addressed" the golf ball as his club didn't move towards the ball until he went to hit it.

[jjoshverity1987]

no way is that a stroke, didnt make contact with the ball or move the putter over it on his follow through so cant be classed as a "fresh air"

[wardyboy26]

HELL YEAH that was a stroke. I just zoomed in with my MacBook (Pro) and that was deffo a stroke maaan.

[hockey4ever4]

Hell yeah thats a stroke.....

[FireWireBlog]

Yep, thats a stroke, also why I broke my putter on the 5 hole of my local course =)

[reniisgod]

Woody is a dick anyway. He has a few screws loose in that head of his.

[golfstud2024]

actually woody is a very nice guy, i have played a few rounds of golf with him.

[letsloveelp]

stop lying

[golfstud2024]

lying about what? i have played 3 rounds with woody and he is a little on the weird side, but a very nice guy. and i hit it about 30 past him.oh and i have his phone number.

[letsloveelp]

stop ur lying

[bunkerputt]

I think we should take Woody's word on what happened.  Woody has been incredibly honest in a lot of areas of the game. Leave the bickering to basketball.

[vijayistheman]

no stroke.....lined up the putt than knocked it in, he did not jab it in.

[skipplet]

Of course that's a stroke. He fucked up and missed the putt, then knocked it in. It doesn't matter how close you are to getting it in; if it takes another hit with the club to get the ball in the hole, its a stroke.

[golfmaniac59]

He was obviosely intending to hit the ball. Anytime you attempt to hit the ball, it counts as a stroke

[mark2242tw]

you all are idiots!!! Watch it full speed!! he set the club before hitting like a smart person would!!!! Fuckn morons...and anyone who would charge someone a stroke penalty from an inch is a straight up loser

[AdamB5000]

You are so wrong. Swing all you want, if you don't hit the ball it's not a stroke. Make contact with the ball and it's a stroke.

Whether or not he made contact with the ball on that first tap in attempt, I'm not sure. The video isn't high quality enough, but it didn't appear the ball moved.

[kamikazejuggler]

Actually, you are so wrong. Any attempt to hit the ball and it is considered a stroke regardless if you hit the ball or not. They talked about it and determined that he did intend to try and hit the ball on his first try and did not put his putter down and then hit it.

[jknightglfr]

You don't play golf much, do you?

[mitch6788]

He stumbled when he "set" his putter. The putter was also moving toward the ball right before he duffed it. He obviously had the intent to hit the ball and he fucked it up. The club doesn't have to go past the ball to be a stroke. It still counts if you swing and duff it or miss the ball. When Tiger stops his swing he is intending to stop and not hit the ball which is not a stroke

[homer8817]

Stroke!!!

[reynolds101]

I think there are some situations in golf that arise, and can't be judged by a rule book. If the intentions were to tap it in, then I believe thats all it should be. That incident should be decided by the golfer making the mistake and their partner. I also feel a double-hit shouldn't be counted as a stroke, seeing it never improves the shot and is almost always by accident.

[2puttking]

next we will have the yanks saying they invented golf..its a stroke..dur!!!!!!!1

[sarahshepvaughan]

No way was that a stroke-he wasn't even addressing the ball.

[awogcms]

Def a stroke. The ball moved from its original position and that is deemed a stroke.

[mark2242tw]

it wasnt a fucking stroke are you serious??? he obviously was setting his putter head before tapping it in seeing as he was walking to the ball?? fuckin idiots...what the fuck does it matter anyways it was an inch away..get a life

[BOHUNTER]

Tell Hale Irwin That!! LOL

Stroke for sure, he attempted to hit the ball and goofed! Penalty.

[mark2242tw]

how did he attempt to hit it!? he was setting his putter before making the stroke he wasnt attempting any fuckin pool shot either sdfgolf. and Ekul said its only a stroke if the clubhead passes the ball or if he is adressing it. and please people get a life golf has the most rediculous rules it was an inch putt and people are making such a big deal about it. man up and beat the guy rather than try and take a stroke over such a stupid moment like this.

[speedracer68]

it's a stroke the ball moved..pffft

[sdfgolf]

Yes. It was a stroke. That's a particular and typical type of billiard-golf spin stroke. He attempted but he missed. sorry. But if the other player didn't see that attempt it's ok. No stroke at the scorecard.

[EkulProductions]

No, it was not a stroke. An attempted stroke is only if the clubhead passes the ball. Or, if he is actually addressing the ball, which he wasn't. It's the same sitauation when Tiger stops his swing halway through, due to a flying bird putting him off, or camera clicks.

It might seem like he meant to hit it, probably did, but luckily this wasn't classed as a stroke and it shouldn't have been, either. The club rested behind the ball.

[Tolley002]

thanks man

[Tolley002]

was it deemed as a stroke? i cant remember

[daniel3203]

na man it didnt end up being a stroke

[golf247365]

no he didnt change the position of the ball with an attempt to hit it

[fllomb]

But it can be an airshot !

[brettisrock]

no. i got them eagle eyes. ball doesn't budge...should of won the tourney but who know who put em in his place.

[kcleigh1982]

thats a fukin stroke beyond doubt....

[RNRCHICKENMAN99]

YES

[bubbiesdad]

NO!

[TheBull06]

maybe:)

[kenny1415]

if you know woody at all you know that he was mad and trying to get as close to the ball without hitting it and if he did hit it then he wouldnt have cared.. but he didnt actually try to hit the ball... make sense? lol

[andres670829]

YES! C'mon. No doubt in my mind, but even worse, no doubt in HIS mind. In the end, it's that: you and your mind.

[kelstick]

Yes sure. He tried to hit it but lost balance. Did he get any kind of penalties for that?

[gripper61]

he's a cheat. it's a stroke.

[titan791]

I initially thought it was a stroke when I watched live but after watching slo-mo there's no wrist action to indicate that he attempted to hit the ball. He was just laying his putter on the green albeit a little hard and much too close to the ball.

[bb5152]

I would say that it is a stroke because when he first attempted to knock the ball into the cup, he hit it but it didn't go in. He then went for a second attempt and it went in. Either way, if he was practicing, then he should at least be like a foot away to count that as a practice shot.

[cheff426]

you can watch it a million times and you still wouldnt be able to firgue it out

[stylsie]

shocking that he chose not to admit this was a stroke and shocking that Tiger didn't pull him up for it. Golf is one of the last bastions of sport where cheats do not prosper and calling a penalty on oneself is the mark of a gentleman. Shame on you Woody Austin, shame on you!

[SGslaya]

agreed. golf is and will always be the only game left with any integrity. since when do you see those overpaid assholes in the nba and nfl call penalties on themselves? no way.

[fokkku]

Most definitely a stroke and most definitely a poor decision by Woody Austin not admitting to it immediately!!!

[soulshined]

agreed. he knew he tried. its not like one stroke was gonna place him anywhere. thats sad you lie when you are on national tv.

[omgwtfnhggsmd]

do you have the full speed video or just this slo-mo?

[ShThFuUp]

I uploaded the full speed vid. Check my other videos.

[michiganblkman]

If it was a stroke, how would it effect the Fex Ex Cup standings?

[SGslaya]

haha, yeah. let's run 234897 scenarios and see.

[SGslaya]

haha, yeah. let's run 234897 scenarios and see.

[TheArcher6999]

He should be DQ'd because he signed an incorrect scorecard. (Putting a shot lower on a hole than he actually had)

[spaceageromeo]

what did the pga rule on this?

[bubbiesdad]

The PAG and Tiger say it was not a whiff.

[bubbiesdad]

Darn, PGA, no edit feature.

[jim201dad]

Just wait and see if the newest expression in golf isn't "pull a woody"!

[golfcrazenes18]

ya i would have to say its 2 u can just tell by the first motion, he would have not been trying to hit the ground

[jim201dad]

you can tell by where his bodyweight is in relation to his feet that he intended to hit the ball with his first motion.....two strokes

[cmoney1988]

lmao i did that at provincials, and it was definitely a damn stroke

[jthemba]

As some non-US golfers say, VHIFF

[Herbie1111]

a whiff - no doubt in my mind -

[bubbiesdad]

Like Tiger's the other day?

[shinesinpines]

Nice three putt Woody

[bubbiesdad]

Nice par.